Labor Markets and Inequality

Labour Markets

• The labor market connects people seeking jobs with employers seeking workers, revolving around the supply of workers and the demand for jobs.
• Rapid changes in jobs are occurring because of technology, like AI, globalization, and the gig economy.
• While some jobs disappear, new ones emerge, but may not be accessible to everyone or in the same locations.
• Stable, full-time employment is less prevalent, with more individuals engaged in short-term or part-time work within the gig economy as contract jobs.

Inequality

• Inequality is defined by significant disparities in income, wealth, and opportunities among individuals or groups.
• The divide between the rich and the poor is growing.
• High-paying jobs are often secured by those with better education and connections.
• Workers with low incomes experience job insecurity, fewer benefits, and harsher conditions.
• Racial and gender inequalities persist as major issues in the job market.

The Future of Work

• The future of work involves expected changes to jobs, skills, and workplaces.
• Automation and artificial intelligence may cause job displacement, especially in repetitive roles.
• Skills in problem-solving, communication, and tech-savviness will be in higher demand.
• Workers need to continually learn to remain competitive.
• Governments, schools, and employers should support individuals preparing for the future through training, education, and fair policies.

Lehman & Adams

• Policy, including laws and social programs, are key in supporting workers as jobs evolve.

Yalnizyan

• The economy must benefit everyone, not just the wealthy and stronger social safety nets are vital.

Boisvert

• People need meaning, security, and dignity from their jobs, in addition to financial compensation.

Immigration & the Canadian Mosaic Part 1 (Satzewich and Liodakis)

• Canada is often described as a mosaic, where different cultures coexist.
• Unlike a melting pot, a mosaic allows people to maintain their cultural identities.
• Immigration has been a key factor in Canada's population and economic growth.
• Immigrants contribute skills, labor, and diversity.
• Immigration policies have evolved, becoming more inclusive.
• Canada uses a points system to select immigrants based on skills, education, and language ability.
• The three main categories of immigrants are economic class, family class, and refugees.
• Satzewich and Liodakis prompt consideration of how inclusive the mosaic truly is.

Immigration and the Canadian Mosaic part 2 (Harford, Ann, Alhmidi)

• Ann Harford focuses on immigrant women, particularly women of color.
• Immigrant women face the dual challenges of racism and sexism.
• Immigrant women perform important but undervalued work like caregiving and cleaning.
• This labor is vital to society and should be recognized and supported.

Alhmidi

• Alhmidi offers a personal perspective as an immigrant.
• Immigrants face pressure to assimilate or become more "Canadian."
• Those with immigrant backgrounds experience struggles with identity, balancing cultural preservation and acceptance.
• Racism and exclusion persist in Canada, despite claims of inclusivity.

Migrant Workers (Arat-Koc, Thompson, Black)

• Migrant workers leave their countries for employment elsewhere, often facing low wages and tough conditions.

Arat-Koc

• Migrant workers, especially women, perform care work in Canada, such as childcare and elder care.
• They leave their own families to care for others.
• An imbalance results, benefiting rich countries while poor countries lose family support.
• This is termed a "care drain," where rich countries gain workers and poor countries lose caregivers.

Thompson

• Migrant workers are often treated unfairly.
• Migrant workers may experience racism and poor working conditions.
• Migrant workers often lack the same rights as local workers, such as health care or fair pay.
• Employers may exert excessive control over migrant workers, like dictating their living arrangements or immigration status.

Black

• Migrant work is part of a larger global system.
• Migration is tied to global inequality between rich and poor countries.
• Some countries rely on remittances from workers abroad.
• Migrant workers are often invisible, yet their work is essential but undervalued.

Criminal Justice System: Family Violence (Ursel, Kulha, Hasham and Gillis)

• Family violence includes abuse among partners, parents, children, or other family members.
• Abuse can be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial.
• Police are often the first responders in family violence cases.
• Cases may proceed to court, where charges can be laid.
• Crown prosecutors decide whether to proceed based on evidence.
• Judges can issue protection orders and sentences.

Challenges in handling Family Violence Cases

• Victims may fear reporting abuse due to fear, love, or financial dependence.
• Victims may withdraw complaints or refuse to testify, complicating prosecution.
• Biases or misunderstandings within the system can arise, such as viewing violence as a private matter.
• The justice system is crucial for protecting victims, holding abusers accountable, and promoting safety, which requires community and social service support.

Criminal Justice System: Marginalized Groups (Dickson-Gilmore, Mas, Rosenthal, Anderson)

• Marginalized groups, like Indigenous people, Black communities, and people in poverty, experience more surveillance and punishment.
• The justice system often reflects social inequalities, resulting in unequal treatment.
• Many laws and institutions were built without input from marginalized communities, leading to bias.

Dickson-Gilmore

• Focus is given to Indigenous people and restorative justice.
• There is an argument that the current system often fails Indigenous communities, because it focuses on punishment instead of healing.
• Justice that includes traditions, culture, and healing at a community level, are supported.
• Colonialism shaped justice policies which harm Indigenous People.

Mas

• Emphasis on how policing practices disproportionately affect racialized and poor communities.
• The effect of structural racism and implicit bias affect how policing is perfromed and how legal decisions are made.
• Advocates advocate for reform in training and accountability in policing.

Rosenthal

• The legal system disadvantages people who lack resources, such as lawyers or money for bail.
• Legal processes can be intimidating and unfair, especially for those unfamiliar with the system.
• Equitable access to justice requires legal aid and better support for those treated unfairly.

Anderson

• Black communities and the criminal justice system.
• The "code of the street" refers to communities developing their own rules due to distrust of police and courts.
• Over-policing and under-protection leave communities feeling unsafe and disrespected.
• Community trust-building and alternatives to aggressive policing is greatly encouraged.

Class, Health Inequality, and Social Justice (Porter)

• Class refers to a person’s position in society based on income, education, and job.
• Higher class means more money, better education, and more power.
• Lower class indicates less access to resources.

Health Inequality

• Lower classes experience worse health.
• Those with lower socio economic means may live in poorer neighborhoods with pollution or less healthcare.
• There is difficulty in affording good food, safe housing, or doctors.
• Stress from poverty impact physical and mental health.

Social Justice

• Making society fair for everyone is a key principle.
• Equal access to health, education, and opportunities is key.
• Efforts are made to fix the unfair disadvantages faced by lower-class individuals.

Porter’s Key Ideas

• Health is shaped by social systems, not just individual choices.
• Economic inequality leads to health inequality.
• Improving health for all requires addressing class differences and promoting fairness.

Racialization, Ethnocultural Diversity, and Health (Hornosty, Amin, Adhopia)

• Racialization is when individuals are seen or treated a certain way because of their race, based on stereotypes rather than facts.
• Society ascribes meaning to physical features like skin color, leading to assumptions about people.
• This can lead to unequal treatment and unfair assumptions.

Ethnocultural Diversity

• Ethnocultural diversity mixes cultures, ethnicities, languages, and traditions in a society.
• Diversity brings different perspectives, traditions, and strengths.
• Equal treatment among diverse societies is not always experienced by everyone.

Health Impacts

• Experiencing racism or exclusion can negativelyimpact mental and physical health.
• Stress from discrimination can lead to anxiety, depression, or high blood pressure.
• Language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and unequal access can affect healthcare quality.

Systemic Inequality

• Health systems can have unintentional biases that disadvantage certain groups.
• Policies/ practices may not reflect the needs of diverse populations.
• Some communities may be under-researched, misdiagnosed, or mistrustful of healthcare.

What Can Help

• Healthcare that respects people’s cultural identities is key.
• There needs to be be better representation in research and healthcare jobs.
• Implementing Anti-racism training for health professionals.
• Enacting policies that address social determinants of health like housing, income, and education.

Health Inequality, and Disability (Shuey et al, Trick)

• Health inequality means unequal chances for individuals to be healthy.
• Those with lower income or education often have worse health.
• Policies and systems affect people unequally in terms of healthcare access.
• Health is influenced by social factors like housing, jobs, and environment.
• Inequalities are passed down through generations.

Disability and Health Inequality

• People with disabilities often face barriers to good health.
• Poor access to healthcare, discrimination, or inaccessible buildings are examples of such barriers.
• Trick emphasizes the correlation between disability and poverty.
• Disability can lead to lower income, and vice versa, making disabilities harder to manage.
• Society often frames disability through a medical lens rather than acknowledging the social barriers.

Immigration Policy

• Canada's Point-Based System assesses immigration applications based on age, education, work experience, and language skills.
• The Express Entry a fast-track immigration process for skilled workers with the highest-ranking individuals being invited to apply for permanent residency..
• Close family members (i.e. spouses, children, parents) can be sponsored by Canadian citizens or permanent residents .
• The country Offers protection to those fleeing war, persecution, or violence which can allow asylum to be sought in Canada.
• The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) helps attract immigrants to specific regions to meet local labor market needs.
• Temporary Foreign Workers are allowed when there are not enough local workers available.
• International students can come to Canada on a study permit and can may apply for a work permit or permanent residency after graduation.
• After living in Canada as a permanent resident for a certain number of years, citizenship is applied for .
• Canada sets annual targets for the number of immigrants it will accept, based on economic needs, family reunification, and humanitarian goals with immigration levels.
• Language Requirements: Applicants need to prove their ability in English or French through language tests, especially for skilled workers.
• Health and Security Checks: All immigrants must undergo health exams and security background checks to ensure they don’t pose a risk to Canadian society.

Temporary Foreign Worker Prgram (TFWP)

• Employers can hire workers from abroad to fill seasonal agricultural jobs, specifically during harvest seasons.

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

• Employers must prove there is a shortage of Canadian workers for the job by undertaking an LMIA.
• The LMIAs demonstrate that the foreign worker won’t negatively impact the Canadian job market.

Work Permits

• Seasonal workers must apply for a work permit, which are temporary and valid for the job’s duration.

Foreign Domestic Movement Program

• The Foreign Domestic Worker Program allowed foreign workers to come to Canada to work as caregivers, nannies, or housekeepers.
• It let employers in Canada hire foreign workers to help with household tasks.

People that can apply to the FDMP

• People from other countries who had experience in caregiving, housekeeping, or similar work.

Conditions for application to the FDMP

• Workers resided lived in the employer's home.
• After 2 years they could apply for permanent residency.

Categories in the FMDP

• Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP): Workers living in the employer’s home.
• Caregiver Program was extended to include caring for children, elderly and people with disabilities:.

Changes to the FMDP

• The program changed in 2014, and workers no longer had to live with their employer and can now apply for permanent residency.
• Some workers faced poor working conditions, low pay, and lack of proper rights and protection.

Findings on in Labour Markets

• The she-session resulted in leaving paid employment to care for their children
• The Working for Workers Act (2021) does not apply to all workplaces
• The Pay Equity Act (2021) does not address inequalities in hiring

Unemployment among Newcommers

• Newcomers (immigrants and refugees) to Canada often face higher unemployment rates compared to Canadian-born citizens.
• Language: Many newcomers struggle with English or French language skills, which limits their job opportunities.
• Recognition of Foreign Credentials: Employers may not recognize degrees, diplomas, or work experience gained in other countries.
• Limited Work Experience in Canada: Lack of Canadian work experience can make it hard to get hired.
• Discrimination

Patterns of Offending

• Family violence follows a cycle of tension-building, abusive incidents, and reconciliation and victims often return to abusive situations due to fear, emotional attachment, or economic dependence.
• Women are most likely to be victimsi n domestic abuse, and power and control dynamics often play a significant role.
• Types of Abuse: Physical, emotional, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse.
• Offenders may have histories of trauma, substance abuse, or mental health issues.
• Children are impacted by family violence and may face long-term emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges.

Domestic Violence

• Specialized Courts (DVCs) focus on cases of family violence and focus on providing a tailored response.
• Victim Support: DVCs offer services like counselling, advocacy, and safety planning, to help survivors.
• Accountability for Offenders: With monitoring, rehabilitation programs, and harsher penalties for repeat offenders, perpetrators are held accountable.
• Access to Justice: Easy and and intimidation free legal the legal processes and services are offered.
• Mixed Results: reduced reoffending has been noted, but with concerns on reach and resource constraints.

Violence agaisnt Indigenous women

• Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately affected by violence, making up 16% of all female homicide victims and 11% of missing women in Canada, despite being a small population of Canada.
• Historical and Systemic Causes: which is tied to the legacy of residential schools and systemic racism within institutions, deeming it a race, identity, and gender-based genocide.
• Investigations into cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls have been marked by indifference and stereotypes, leading to inadequate responses from police and authorities

Victims

• Factors such as poverty, substance abuse, and disconnection from traditional culture contribute to the vulnerability of Indigenous women and girls to violence.

Call for Justice

• Issues 231 Calls for this justice targeted at govermnets, instititions and all Canadians.
• The main recommendations for the calls are: Recognizing cultural rights, implementing educational programs to combat racism, equitable access to economic opportunities, establishing support services for families and survivors.

Factors associated with Health

• Genetics play a role in the risk of cardiovascular and diabetes.
• Lifestyle choices like smoking, diet, drinking, all contribute.
• Accessible healthcare is a key aspect of overall health.
• Social and Economic Status influences health as higher earners/ more educated often have better outcomes.
• Good environment and clean pollution free conditions are helpful.
• Well being is is also a major factor as stress has links to anxiety and mental health disorders.
• Diet and culture can influence habits and well being.
• Government programs such as clean water and vaccinations are also important.
• Age and gender are also factors in determining health.
• Income will always make it difficult to afford various necessities like housing and food.
• Higher education is a good source of knowledge to improve life style.
• Job security and employment are great to improve all health aspect.
• A good social system and community and family is a good method to improve well being.
• Safe and stable housing is vital to health as well.
• Safe access to healthcare is a good way to avoid stress and allow people to get treatment.

Health and Sociatal Pressures

• Healthy food is key to stability.
• Clean air is an often overlooked but very important part to living well.
• Discrimination is also a huge factor as racism can lower health results.
• Better credentialing can help immigrants seek to work at the jobs.
• Canada's equal opportunity is challenged.
• It is found that immigrants have families struggling with poverty and family.
• Immigrants are tasked with responsibility in the home that increase over.
• Immigrant workers aren't offered protection enough.
• Point systems evaluate newcomers in education skills and language and have more racialized overtones.

Health Laws

• Protections for Canadians with disabilities are provided under The Canadian Human Rights Act.
• Changes towards divorce help separate people from financial or sprititual abuse
• Idigenous men and woman are more often crime victims.
• Those who don't have money struggle pre natally.
• Government funded ivf is only in Quebec.
• Women have greater disability and also higher expectancy.